Pluting machine



Nov. Z '1926. 1,605,828

c.A. FRAHM -FLUTING MACHINE Filed May 23. 1925 '7 snags-sheet 1 Nov. 2 E926.

F11 May 25, 192s 1 C. A. FRAHM FLUTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Shet 2 Nov. 2', 192e. 1,605,828

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C A FRAHM FLUTING MACHINE Filed May 23, 1925 Nov. Z 1926.

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C. A. FRAHM FLUTING MACHINE Filed May 23, 192s v sheets-sheet 7 amsn-133' .Patented Nev. 2, l192e. l

lururlan STATI-:s PATENT orf-lolav CARL A. r'RAHM, or cANroN, oH'Io, AssIeNoa, BY M'EsNE AssreNiuEN'rs, 'ro THE UNIoN METAL MANUrAc'rUmNe COMPANY, A eonPonA'rIoN or omo.

FLUTQNG MACHINE.

Appnceadn am Ney as, 1925. V.serial No. 32,344.

This invention relates 'to machines for l fiuting sheet metal columns, such as are used for lamp standards, building columns, trolley poles, telegraph and telephone poles, and the like.

It is well known that machines have been constructed for fiuting columns formed of light gauge sheet metal, by forming the flutes one at a time over a mandrel by means of a roller, but since the mandrel can only be supported at its ends and the pressure is only applied upon one side of the mandrel, it is not practical to flute any but light gauge sheet metal columns upon such ma-` chines. i

Attempts have also been made to form a plurality of flutes around a column in one operation by placing the column upon a mandrel and moving an annular head longitudinally ofthe mandrel, cam operated rollers being carried by the head and arranged' to 4cooperate with the mandrel to' flute the column.

Machines of this latter type also proved to be impractical as owing' to the uneven wear upon the cams, it was impossible to maintain a uniform pressure upon all ofthe rollers throughout the entire operation, thus producing some fiutes of greater depth than others.

This type of machine did not provide -for a uniform pressure upon all of the rollers, throughout the entire operation, but attempted, by means of the cams, to hold the rollers against the mandrel throughout the length of the same.

As above pointed out, the rapid wear upon the cam mechanism of this machine made it im ossible to form even light gauge columns ofp uniform contour, as all of the rollers could 'not be held uniformly against the mandrel throughout the o eration, thus causing irregularities in the utlng of the column and making it 'impossible'to flute a r heavy gauge column upon the same.

The object of the present improvement is to provide a iuting machine for flutinng.

tapered columns, capable of fiuting columns of heavy gauge metal, and havingmeans forA applying uniform pressure upon all of the flut-ing rollers throughout the entire length of the mandrel. A

, The above'objects may be attained by providing a mandrel having tapered ribs adapted to receive a tubular sheetmetal column, the rollers being radially arranged around 'the mandrel and each roller being'operated by a fluid cylinder, means being provi-ded for applying uniform pressure to all of the cylinders throughout the operation, whereby all of' the rollerso engage the column with uniform pressure over the ribs of the mandrel, throughout lthe entire length of the mandrel. v

An embodiment of the invention is illustrlaited in the accompanying drawings, in w 1c Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved fiuting machine;

Fig. 2, an enlarged section on the line 2*-2, Fig. 1; y

Fig. 3., a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2; Fi 4, an enlarged transverse section showlng the tubular column upon the mandrel - Fi 5, an enlarged transverse sectionV showlng the first fillet forming operation;

Fig. 6, a similar view showing the second fillet formlng operatlon;

Fig. 7, .an enlarged transverse sectio shcwlng thefirst .flute forming operation; an

Fig. 8, a similar view showing the second flute forming operation.

. Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

Themandrel 1 upon which the fiuting of the sheet metal column is performed, is shown as a tapered cylinder provided around its periphery with the ribs 2, prefer ably inserted as illustrated, having the substantially V-shapedlongitudinal edges 3 to conform to the fillets to be produced in the column and spaced the desired .distance apart to produce tapered flutes of the proper Width in the colum This mandrel is carried upon a double rack bar 4, horizontally slidable within the housing 5, land arranged to be driven by means of a-pair of pinions 6 `meshing with the rack faces ofthe bar.

These pinions are driven by a' pair of meshing gears 7, one of which is engaged by the inlon 8 mounted upon a shaft 9 which carrles the large gearlO driven by a pinion 11 upon the-shaft of the motn' ,12 whichl is a reversing type of -inotor in order that the mandrel may be moved horizont-ally in v either direction.'

Mounted at a distance from the mandrel stand or housing and in alignment therewith is a 'base 13'upon which is located the mechanism for forming the fillets 'and tapered flutes upona tapered sheetmetal column carried by the mandrel. The mechamounted upon the upright 16 and the final finte forming mechanism upon the upri ht 17.

he fillet and flute forming mechanism' in each instance is carried upon a face plate removably connected to the corresponding upright and as all of these face plates and the associated mechanism, with the exception of the contours of the particular rollers, are the same, only one unit of this mechanism is illustrated in detail.

Figs. 2 and 3 show the initial fillet lform-l ing mechanism. The faceplate 18 isl circular and provided with a .peripheral iange 19 having the in-turned rim iiange 20 arranged to be connected by the screws 21 to the adjacent upright. Each upright and face plate is provided with a central aperture 22 and 23 respectively, aligned with the mandrel 1, land of sufficient size to permit free movement of the mandrel therethrough.

Each face plate is provided with aced radial slots 24' extending into the Perip eral portion thereof and a fiuid cylinder 25 is provided with a lug 26 slidably located in each of said slots, an adjusting screw 27 being provided for radially adjusting each cylinder.

Each of these adjusting screws is journaled in a boss 28 fixed upon the Peripheral flange of the face plate, collars 29' being provided upon each side of the boss to prevent longitudinal movement of the screw,

the threaded portion thereof being located,

through an internally threaded bore in the adjacent lug 26, and a hand wheel 30 being provided upon the outer end of each adjusting screw, o r manually operating the same.

Each of the cylinders 425 is -shouldered midway of its interior forming a seat 31, and each piston 32 is provided at its inner end with a shoulder-33 arranged to seat thereon to limit' the-outer movement of the be li ewise connected to a single accumulator. Thus a uniform pressure is applied to all of the fillet forming rollers throughout the length of the mandrel, and in a similar manner a uniform pressure is applied to all of thefiute formi-ng rollers throughout the entire operation.

' Rollers for producing the fillets and fiutesin cooperation with the madrel are carried.

upon the outer extremities of the istons; the rollers 35 for the initial fillet orining operation, vare of the shape shown in Figs. 2 and 4 and have a central peripheral groove arrang1 d to coact with the adjacent V- shape rib 3 upon the mandrel. As best shown in Fig. 4, it will be seen that these rollers are arranged to engage every alter-295 nate rib upon `the mandrel, pressing the sheet metal column C over lalternate ribs upon the mandrel, forming the fillets F. i

The rollers 36 which form the secondv set of fillets, are identical with the initial form- 'ing rollers 35, and are staggered with rela.- tion thereto, so as to engage the metal over the intermediate ribs upon the mandrel, which are missed by the initial fillet form.- ing rollers.

As shown in Fig. 6, these rollers form the fillets F between the fillets F which are formed with the initial operation. The mechanism upon the upri ht 16 is provided with the rounded rollers 3 which form the flutes between alternate shown in Fig. 7, pressing the metal at spaced points around the periphery of: the columnand forming the alternate fiutes G.

As shoWnin'Fig. 8, the final flute forming rollers 38 are similar to the\rpllers37 and are spaced in staggered relation thereto, so as to engage the column between the ribs which are missed by the rollers'37, forming the flutes G between the flutes G. v

Beyond the mechanism just described, upon the base 13, is mounted an upright 40, upon' which the stripping mechanism ,is mounted, and spaced beyond said strippin mechanism a considerable distance, and pre pairs of ribs 3, as

erably mounted upon-said base, is another similar npright 41,' mca'rrying mechanism 'isi The stripping mechanism is carried upon a face plate 18, similar to those above describedQand provided -with cylinders 25a similar to the cylinders abovedescribed, the pistons 42 thereof having the shouldered extremities 43 inclined upon the rear side as I at 44.

' The mechanism upon the upright 41 is similar to the stripping mechanism, the pistons 46 being arranged to engage the end of the sheet metal column as the mandrel is passed through the same, forcing the column tightly upon the mandrel.

' of rollers throughout the entire length of4 The mandrel is then withdrawn to the initial position and is again moved forward through the fillet and flute forming mechanism, the fluid being then admitted to the various cylinders to force the pistons thereof inward until the shoulders 33 thereon seat upon the seats 31, the rollers thereon formthe mandrel', thus producing uniform flutes, correspondingly tapered throughout their lengths, and since extreme pressure may be applied to the rollers, by means of the fluid cylinders, it is possible to flute' columns formed of heavy gauge sheetsteel, upon the improved machine.

When the column is completely formed the mandrel will have reached its outward position, bringing the finished column into substantially the same position as the blank column C shown in Fig. 1. To remove the finished column from the mandrel, the'pistons 42 are operated by admitting fluid to the cylinders thereof, en aging these pistons with the larger end o? the column, and the mandrel is thenV pulled backward to the initial position, strippin the fluted column therefrom and permitting it to be removed from the machine.

1. A fluting machine including a mandrel having tapered lon itudinal ribs adapted to receive a tapered tu ular column,- a series of radially disposed formin rollers arranged to flute the column over sai ribs, means for imparting relative movement between the manthrou hout the entire length of the mandrel.

2. fluting machine including a mandrel having tapered lonoitudinal ribs. adapted to receive a tapered tiiliular column, a series of radially disposed forming rollers arranged to flute the column over said ribs, means for imparting relative movement between the mandrel and the rollers, a fluid cylinder for operating each roller and means for apply ing yielding uniform pressure -to all of said cylinders throughout the entire length of the mandrel.

3. A fluting machine including a mandrel having tapered longitudinal ribs adapted to .receive a tapered tubular column, a series of radially disposed fillet forming rollers arranged to press the column over said ribs to form fillets therein, a series of radially disposed fluting rollers arranged to press and stretch the column between said ribs to form flutes therein, means for imparting relative throughout the entire length of the mandrel.

4. A lluting machine including a mandrel having tapered longitudinal ribs adapted to receive a tapered tubular column, a series of radially disposed fillet forming rollers arranged to press the column over said ribs to form fillets therein, a series of radially disposed fluting rollers arranged to press and stretch thev column between said ribs to form flutes therein, means for imparting relative movement between the mandrel and the roll ers, a fluid cylinder for operating each roller and means for applying uniform pressure to all of the c linders of each series, throughout the entire ength of the mandrel.

5. A fluting machine including a mandrel having longitudinal tapered ribs adapted to receive a tapered tubular column, a series of grooved rollers .arranged to press the column over said ribs to form fillets therein, a series of rollers arranged to press andstretch the column between said' ribs to form flutes therein, means for imparting relative movement betweenthe mandrel and the rollers, and means for1 maintaining yielding uniform pressure upon all the \r\o,llers of' each series throughout` the length of the mandrel.

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lil() lll) 6. A fluting machine including a mandrel having tapered longitudinal fribs adapted lo .receive a tapered tubular column, a series of grooved rollersarranged to-press the column over said ribs to form :fillets there- 1n, a ser1es of rollers 'arrangedfto press and flutes therein, means g-.forfmoving the man-A drel longitudinally,'-` and' means for mains;

taining y1eld1ng uniform pressure upon all the rollers of each' .series throughout the lstretch the column betweensaidribs to form having tapered longitudinal ribs adapted to receive a tapered tubular column, a series of grooved rollers arranged to press the colLmn over said ribs to form fillets therein, a series of rollers arranged to press and stretch the column between said ribs to form flutes therein, means for imparting relative movement between the mandrel and the rollers, and means for applyin yielding uniform pressure to all the rol ers of each's'e-l ries throughout the length of the mandrel.

8. A fluting machine including a mandrel having tapered longitudinal ribs adapted to receive a tapered tubular column, a series of grooved rollers arranged to press the column over certain of said ribs to form' lfillets therein, a second series of grooved rollers arranged to press the column over the remaining ribsto form additional filletstherein, a series of rounded rollers arranged .to press and stretch the column between certain of said ribs to form flutes therein, a second series of rounded rollers arranged to press and stretch the column between the remaining ribs to form additional flutes therein, means for imparting relative movement between the mandrel and the rollers, and means for applying uniform pressure to' all 'the rollers of each series, throughl' series of rounded rollers arranged to press and stretch the column between the remaining pairs of ribs to form additional flutes therein, means for imparting relative movement between the mandrel and the rollers, and independent means for applying uniform pressureto all of, the fillet forming rollers, and uniform pressure to all of the ,flute forming rollers throughout the length of the mandrel.

10. -In a fluting machine of the character described in claim 1, a fluid cylinder oper- A tudinall movable mandrel havin 4longitu inal ribs adapted to receive ata- :au

ativelyconnected to each roller, and means fo uniformly admitting fluid tov each cyl- 1n er. I 11. A fluting machine including a longipered tubular column, a plurality of 'uprights mountedin'alinement with the mandrel, vface plates mounted upon said yuprights, said uprights and face plates having central openings to receive the mandrel,

fluid.l cylinders carried by said face plates, grooved rollers carried by one set of cylinders to press the column over the ribs to form fillets therein, rollers carried by one setv of cylinders to stretch the column between the ribs to form flutesdherein, and means for uniformly admitting fluid to each cylinder of a series.

12. A fluting machine including a longitudinally movable mandrel having tapered longitudinal ribs adapted to receive aftapered tubular colunm, a plurality ofY upv rights mounted in alinement with the mandrel, face plates mounted upon saiduprights,

openings to receive the mandrel, fluid cylinders carried by .said face plates, grooved rollers carried by one set of cylinders to press the column over the ribs to form fillets 'said uprights and face plates having central therein, rollers carried by one set of cylin- -I l ders to stretch the column between the ribs 'to form flutes therein, pistons in one set of cylinders for stripping the column from the mandrel, and means for uniformly admitting fluid to each cylinder of a series.

13. A fluting machine including a longitudinally movable mandrel havingtapered longitudinal ribs adapted to receive a tapered tubular column, a plurality of up-l rights mountedv in alinment with the inandrel, face plates mounted upon saidg uprights, said uprights and face plates having central openmgs to receive the mandrel, fluid cylinders carried by said face plates, grooved rollers carriedby one set of cylinders to press the column over the-ribs to vform fillets therein, rollers carried by one set of cylinders to stretch the column between the ribs tov form flutes therein, pistons in oneset of cylinders for forcing the column upon the mandrel, and means for uniformly admitting fluid to each cylinder of a series.

14. A fluting machine including a longitudinall movable mandrel havin tapered 4longitu inal ribs 4adapted to receive a tapered tubular column, aplurality of uprights -mounted in alinement .with the mandrel, face plates. mounted upon said uprights, said uprights and face plates having central openings to receive the mandrel, fluid cylinders carried by said face plates, grooved -rollers carried ,by one set of cylinders to press the column overl the ribs Ato form fillets therein, rollers carried by oneset of cylinders to stretch the column between'the ribs to form flutes therein, pistons in one set of cylinders for forcing the column u on the mandrel, pistons in one set of cylinders 4for stripping-the column from the mandrel, and i Y means for uniformly vadmitting fluid to all of the cylinders of a series.

15. A flutin machine including a mandrel having tapered longitudinal ribs. adapted to receive a tapered tubular column,A a series cumulator whereby a yielding uniform presof radially disposed forming `rollers arsure is applied to all of the rollers throughranged to flute the column over said ribs, out the length of the mandrel'. 10 means for imparting relative movement be- In testimony that I claim the above, I

5 tween the mandrel and the rollers and a fluid have hereunto. subscribed my name.

cylinder for operating each roller, all of said cylinders being connected to a single ac- CARL A. FRAHM. 

